P315 - EXPLORING THE PROGNOSTIC ROLE OF SYMPTOMS SEVERITY VARIATIONS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH NUTRITIONAL PARAMETERS IN CANCER PATIENTS

P315

EXPLORING THE PROGNOSTIC ROLE OF SYMPTOMS SEVERITY VARIATIONS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH NUTRITIONAL PARAMETERS IN CANCER PATIENTS

E. Mattavelli^1,*, E. Cereda¹, G. Vandoni², F. De Simeis¹, A. Uggè¹, T. Nardi³, A. Mascheroni⁴, F. Valoriani⁵, L. Lucchin⁶, E. Agnello⁷, F. Giovanardi⁸, A. Ferrari⁹, P. Pedrazzoli⁹, R. Caccialanza¹ on behalf of on behalf of the ONCO-BIVA Collaborative Group

¹Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, ²Clinical Nutrition Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, ³Nutritional Support Unit, Veneto Istitute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, ⁴Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Unit, ASST Melegnano e Martesana, Melegnano (MI), ⁵Division of Metabolic Diseases and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, ⁶Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Bolzano Health District, Bolzano, ⁷Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, A.O.U. Città della salute e della scienza di Torino, Torino, ⁸Department of Oncology, Guastalla Hospital, Guastalla, ⁹Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy

Rationale: Evaluating the severity and changes in cancer-related symptoms over time is crucial for predicting outcomes and optimizing treatment strategies. This study aims to explore the association between changes in symptoms severity and nutritional parameters, as well as their prognostic impact in cancer patients.

Methods: A subsample from the ONCO-BIVA study was selected (n=151). We included patients with 6-month follow-up data available on: dietary intakes, Body Mass Index (BMI), BIVA-derived standardized phase angle (SPA), symptom severity (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-ESAS). The sample was stratified by improved or worsened ESAS, and nutritional parameters were compared between groups accordingly (results reported as mean between-group difference [95%CI]). The prognostic significance of changes in symptom severity was assessed by survival analysis (follow-up truncated at 12-months).

Results: Patients with improved symptoms (50.3%) presented lower baseline BMI than those with worsened symptoms. However, at follow-up BMI was no longer different. Patients with worsened symptoms presented a higher decrease in BMI than their counterparts: 1.42[0.64;2.21];p<0.01). This was mirrored by the change in SPA: 0.60[0.12;1.06];p<0.01). A similar behavior was observed for changes in both calorie (3.23[0.62;5.85] kcal/kg; p<0.01) and protein intake: 0.15[0.04;0.26] g/kg;p<0.01). SPA and BMI changes were significantly correlated (Pearson’s r=0.39;p<0.01). Survival analysis (deaths, n=38) revealed a trend toward shorter survival in patients with worsened symptoms (log-rank test p=0.181).

Conclusion: Our results suggest an association between worsened symptoms severity and deterioration of nutritional parameters. Further studies are warranted to assess whether nutritional interventions could be beneficial to symptoms burden and related prognosis.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared